Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Agencies Recognized For Safety Partnership; Contracts Awarded

RICHMOND, Va. – At its monthly meeting this week, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved $20.2 million in contracts for projects by both the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and recognized several agencies for work on Highway Safety Month, an initiative designated for April by Governor Ralph Northam.
“We are grateful Governor Northam designated April as Highway Safety Month,” said Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine. “With 843 traffic fatalities in 2017, the numbers are going tragically in the wrong direction.”
Deputy Secretary Quintin Elliott provided an update on a partnership among VDOT, the Department of Motor Vehicles and Virginia State Police on highway safety.
“Crashes are on the rise in Virginia,” said Deputy Secretary Quintin Elliott. “Through media partnerships, social media and public service announcements, over 600,000 people are hearing these messages of safety thus far.”
Three contracts totaling $18.8 million were approved for projects in VDOT’s Lynchburg, Salem and Staunton districts. “These projects will provide vital new connectivity and allow for much-needed improvements to pavements and bridges in our western regions,” said VDOT Commissioner Stephen C. Brich.
  • An $8.4 million contract was awarded to Kanawha Stone Company, Inc. of Nitro, W.Va. to add turn lanes, sidewalks and bike lanes along a half a mile of East Main Street (Route 460) in the City of Salem, beginning near Route 311 and extending to Brand Avenue. The project will improve safety, access and traffic flow for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Additionally, a new traffic signal will be installed at the Lynchburg Turnpike intersection. Project completion is expected in summer 2020.
  • Funding for $6 million was approved for VDOT to conduct an environmental study of a plan to extend the I-495 Express Lanes by approximately three miles from the I-495 and Dulles Toll Road interchange to the vicinity of the American Legion Bridge and Maryland line. This northern extension to the 495 Express Lanes would help relieve a traffic-choked section of I-495 by providing more capacity, new travel choices and benefits for carpoolers.
  • A $5.3 million contract was awarded to Boxley Materials Company of Roanoke for concrete paving on the Route 460 east bypass in Appomattox, from just west of Route 26 to 0.3 miles west of Route 707. The project, in VDOT’s Lynchburg District, is expected to be complete in late fall 2018.
  • A $5.1 million contract was awarded to Lanford Brothers Company of Roanoke for routine bridge repairs and preventative maintenance in VDOT’s Staunton District.
  • In advance of each CTB meeting, Commissioner Brich approves contracts up to $5 million in value. From the February 14 bid letting, the commissioner approved 43 contracts worth an approximate total of $82.6 million for construction and maintenance projects on Virginia’s interstates and primary and secondary roads.
The CTB also awarded $900,000 in grants to support economic development through increasing industrial access to the railroad network.
  • SeaGate Terminals, L.L.C., was awarded $450,000, which supports the company’s $500,000 facility expansion project to increase the import and export of dry bulk materials at the company’s City of Chesapeake facility, which is served by the Norfolk and Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad.
  • The Buckingham Branch Railroad was awarded $450,000 to support its Doswell Transload facility expansion project in Hanover County. The facility will support Nestle-Purina Petcare Company’s $12.4 million factory expansion in King William County, a 40-acre plant site with an adjacent 486-acre leased clay mine site.
“These facility expansions are important investments for moving railcars and reducing vehicular congestion,” said Jennifer Mitchell, DRPT Director.
Appointed by the governor, the 17-member CTB establishes the administrative policies for Virginia's transportation system. The CTB allocates highway funding to specific projects, locates routes and provides funding for airports, seaports and public transportation. The board normally meets on the third Wednesday of the month in months when action meetings are scheduled.

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